Information and Reflections for the FBC Family

Refusing to Be Ashamed

June 16, 2008by Erick Cobb

When is the last time you recieved a friend’s, coworker’s,
or family member’s rejection because you shared the Gospel with them?
Have you gone weeks without being rejected for Christ? Months?
Years? Being faithful to Jesus is not just about living morally and going
to church – Jesus says it must also includes being frequently
rejected by those we share Christ with (Luke 9:23-26). This passage
is not just for those who live in “hard places”, it describes the
normal, faithful Christian life.

One of the biggest reasons we fear rejection and are silent
about the Gospel is because the acceptance of others has become our functional
justification. We may say that we know all is well with our souls because
we have been justified before God in Christ, but the truth is that we
really only know all is well with our souls when everyone approves of
us. Human approval, not approval before God in Christ, has become our
justification and when something threatens that approval we are
terrified. The thing is that you have already been justified before God
in Jesus. You can never be rejected by God, because Jesus was credited
with your sin and was rejected by God and condemned in your
place. If that is true (and it is) who’s approval matters? Who’s
approval matters enough to be ashamed of such a Savior?

So if the pattern of your life has been to avoid the
rejection of family, friends, and coworkers by not “pushing it”
or waiting for the perfect opportunity (which never seems to come) here is a
simple way to start Gospel conversations even if there is presently
no open door:

2.) Think of 5 people you could give the CD to
this week – don’t overlook those with a church background that don’t
go to church – they are a big part of our mission field. If they aren’t
regularly going to church, consider them unsaved and include them in your
evangelism. They may be saved but radically unhealthy – either way they
need the Gospel.

3.) Pray for them.

4.) When you give them the CD just
tell them that you heard it recently and you thought it was a very good
historical case for the resurrection of Jesus and that you really want to hear
what they think of it. Tell them you will buy them lunch, breakfast, or
coffee to hear their thoughts on it.

5.) When you get together, really listen to them.
Write down their objections. If you don’t have an answer, don’t make one
up. tell them you will get back to them with an answer and then ask one
of us and we’ll point you to the best resources. Sometime in the next
couple of weeks we will have a meeting to discuss how we can better facilitate
one another in this.

You don’t have to do it this way, but you do have to do
it. We cannot be ashamed or silent about the Gospel, Jesus has not left
us that option (Luke 9:23-26).

How are you the most of the contacts God has given you
(at home, work, school) to communicate the Gospel? This is what it means
to follow Jesus.